The Cutting Edge Veterinary Podcast

STUDENTS: Alex Ferguson, Kaitlyn Dvorack, and Alex Hibberd FACULTY MENTOR: Dr. Soren Boysen PODCAST EPISODE DESCRIPTION Feline urethral obstruction is a critical emergency—but several aspects of its management remain hotly debated. This episode examines the evidence behind decompressive cystocentesis, when it’s appropriate, and why it shouldn’t replace unblocking except in rare, financially constr...

STUDENTS: Vanessa Boone, Linda Raduner, and Paulina Wolswinkel FACULTY MENTOR: Dr. Jennifer Pearson PODCAST EPISODE DESCRIPTION Micronutrient balance is essential for cattle health—yet many western Canadian beef herds face deficiencies in copper, selenium, and vitamin A, alongside excess molybdenum and sulfur. This episode explores how to accurately assess herd status through targeted sampling and...

STUDENTS: Sandy Peters, Shayna Brower, and Isa Gasser FACULTY MENTORS: Dr. Betty-Jo Bradley and Dr. John Remnant PODCAST EPISODE DESCRIPTION Bovine respiratory disease remains a major challenge in dairy and feedlot operations, and traditional scoring methods often miss early cases. This episode explores how thoracic ultrasound can enhance diagnostic accuracy, guide treatment decisions, and improve...

STUDENTS: Rebecca Vavrek, Spencer Smith, and Sukhjit Sidhu FACULTY MENTOR(S): Drs. Soren Boysen and Julie Menard PODCAST EPISODE DESCRIPTION Left‑sided congestive heart failure is a high‑stakes emergency—but point‑of‑care ultrasound is transforming rapid diagnosis. This episode walks through stabilizing distressed patients, key POCUS lung and cardiac landmarks, and how to distinguish L‑CHF from ot...

STUDENT: Tara Mulloy FACULTY MENTORS: Dr. Becky Valentine and Dr. Nanci Bond PODCAST EPISODE DESCRIPTION Dermatology cases can be frustrating for clients, patients, and general practitioners—especially when pruritic pets receive misdiagnoses or impractical treatment plans. This episode explores how a spectrum‑of‑care approach can simplify workups for conditions like canine atopic dermatitis. Learn...

STUDENT: Michaela Douglas FACULTY MENTOR: Dr. Rebecca Jackson PODCAST EPISODE DESCRIPTION Feline infectious peritonitis is no longer a death sentence. This episode explores how remdesivir and GS‑441524 have transformed survival outcomes and why veterinarians must take a more active role in monitoring and guiding treatment—especially with newly available legal formulations in Canada. We provide ess...

STUDENTS: Kylee Dunfield, Grace-Anne Weisgerber FACULTY MENTOR: Dr. Mike Scott PODCAST EPISODE DESCRIPTION Objective gait analysis is evolving fast—and kinetic technology may be its next big leap. This episode explores how measuring forces, rather than just motion, could transform lameness diagnosis, treatment monitoring, and clinical decision‑making in equine practice. We discuss current limitati...

STUDENTS: Eva Hamm, Mikayla Newbold, Taylor Ward FACULTY MENTOR: Dr. Brielle Rosa PODCAST EPISODE DESCRIPTION Equine gastric ulcers are common—and choosing the right therapy matters. This episode compares traditional oral omeprazole with the emerging injectable formulation, exploring efficacy, ulcer type, ease of administration, and owner compliance. We also highlight essential management strategi...

STUDENTS: Alex Burk and Safira Teja FACULTY MENTORS: Dr. Serge Chalhoub and Dr. Tessa Baker PODCAST EPISODE DESCRIPTION Access to affordable veterinary care shapes the wellbeing of pets, owners, and veterinary professionals alike. This episode explores how financial limitations, social determinants, and systemic barriers contribute to moral stress, shelter strain, and care inequities—especially fo...

STUDENTS: Kyle Mitchell and Vladimir Tadic FACULTY MENTOR: Dr. Jennifer Pearson PODCAST EPISODE DESCRIPTION Explore the science and best practices behind bovine castration across four key production ages. We break down pain‑mitigation strategies, technique selection, and why earlier is better for calf welfare. Learn how veterinarians can guide producers with evidence‑based protocols—from newborns...

STUDENTS: Nicole McClure and Jaimie Warren FACULTY MENTOR: Dr. Nigel Caulkett PODCAST EPISODE DESCRIPTION Airway management is essential for safe anesthesia, but achieving a secure airway isn’t always straightforward—especially in field conditions, oropharyngeal procedures, or species with challenging anatomy. This episode compares endotracheal intubation with masks, supraglottic devices, and othe...

STUDENTS: Nyomi Brobbel and Faith Jensen FACULTY MENTOR: Dr. Gordon Atkins PODCAST EPISODE DESCRIPTION Flotation therapy can be a valuable tool for treating downer cows with secondary recumbency, but success depends on careful case selection. This episode explores key prognostic indicators—from physical exam findings to muscle enzymes and bloodwork—and outlines essential inclusion criteria. Learn...

STUDENTS: Jamie Cole and Rayne-Joy Dack FACULTY MENTOR: Dr. Marina McConkey PODCAST EPISODE DESCRIPTION Can omega‑3 fatty acids improve life for dogs with osteoarthritis? This episode reviews current evidence on O3FAs as part of multimodal OA management, exploring their analgesic effects, impact on mobility, and role in reducing NSAID use. We also examine study limitations and what future research...

STUDENT: Caroline Beninger FACULTY MENTOR: Dr. Nigel Caulkett PODCAST EPISODE DESCRIPTION Routine pre‑anesthetic screening bloodwork is common—but does it actually improve outcomes? This episode breaks down current human and veterinary evidence showing why broad screening rarely finds hidden disease, changes management, or predicts complications. We explore when targeted testing does add value, wh...

STUDENTS: Madeleine Browne and Kianna Vandergraaf FACULTY MENTORS: Drs. Marina McConkey and Ning Cheng PODCAST EPISODE DESCRIPTION Cranial cruciate ligament disease is the top cause of stifle lameness in dogs, and rehabilitation plays a crucial role in recovery—whether or not surgery is an option. This episode explores evidence‑based rehab principles, individualized treatment planning, and how gen...

STUDENTS: Justine Telawsky and Sydney Warchola FACULTY MENTOR: Dr. Serge Chalhoub PODCAST EPISODE DESCRIPTION Feline urethral obstruction is a common emergency, often driven by feline idiopathic cystitis and other components of FLUTD. This episode reviews rapid, evidence‑based stabilization—from diagnostics to fluids, analgesia, and catheterization—while highlighting new research on catheter size,...

STUDENTS: Emily Russ and Jessica Dixon FACULTY MENTOR: Dr. Thilo Pfau PODCAST EPISODE DESCRIPTION Equine lameness can challenge even the most experienced clinicians—human eyes simply can’t detect subtle asymmetries or avoid bias. This episode explores how gait analysis technology, or the “lameness locator,” provides objective, high‑precision motion data to improve detection, localization, and asse...

STUDENTS: Brooke-Lynn Vandenberg, Carly Wilson, and Shea Wilson FACULTY MENTORS: Drs. Marina McConkey and Ning Cheng PODCAST EPISODE DESCRIPTION Ovariectomy or ovariohysterectomy—which sterilization technique is truly best for female dogs? This episode reviews decades of comparative research on peri‑ and postoperative outcomes, from hemorrhage risk to urinary incontinence and ureteral injury. Desp...

STUDENTS: Natalia Feschuk, Mackenzie Forsythe, and Taylor Huber FACULTY MENTORS: Drs. Serge Chalhoub and Søren Boysen PODCAST EPISODE DESCRIPTION Managing a cat in respiratory distress requires fast, low‑stress assessment—and thoracic POCUS is transforming that first look. This episode reviews key ultrasound signs, how to distinguish pulmonary edema, pleural effusion, and cardiac changes, and when...

STUDENTS: Halley Adams, Meaghan Nawrot, and Lynn Thiessen FACULTY MENTORS: Drs. Claire Windeyer and Jennifer Pearson PODCAST EPISODE DESCRIPTION Assisted calvings can leave newborn calves struggling with hypoxia and acidemia, making prompt, evidence‑based intervention essential. This episode introduces a practical decision tree for neonatal calf resuscitation, outlining key early‑life milestones a...

STUDENT: Ciara Milicevic FACULTY MENTORS: Dr. Johnathan Canton and Dr. Becky Valentine PODCAST EPISODE DESCRIPTION Environmental allergies in pets are rising—and medications alone often aren’t enough. This episode explores why symptoms recur, how household and outdoor allergens contribute, and why allergen‑specific immunotherapy (ASIT) is the only long‑term solution. Learn how ASIT builds toleranc...

STUDENTS: Emma Mandolesi-Kahanyshyn, Sarah Kulle, and Allison Kwantes FACULTY MENTORS: Drs. Brielle Rosa and Karen Liljebjelke PODCAST EPISODE DESCRIPTION Caseous lymphadenitis remains a costly, persistent challenge in small ruminant herds worldwide. This episode reviews current evidence on controlling CLA—from biosecurity and culling to vaccination—and compares open versus closed‑system abscess m...

STUDENTS: Kyle Mitchell and Vladimir Tadic FACULTY MENTOR: Dr. Jennifer Pearson PODCAST EPISODE DESCRIPTION Explore the science and best practices behind bovine castration across four key production ages. We break down pain‑mitigation strategies, technique selection, and why earlier is better for calf welfare. Learn how veterinarians can guide producers with evidence‑based protocols—from newborns...

STUDENTS: Brooke Whitmarsh and Megan Johnson FACULTY MENTOR: Dr. Holly Sparks PODCAST EPISODE DESCRIPTION Dive into the challenges of equine synovial sepsis—one of the most serious complications of traumatic wounds. This episode unpacks current literature on diagnosis, key prognostic indicators, and effective treatment strategies. Learn how timely, aggressive intervention—even in the field—can dra...

STUDENTS: Rachael Morrison, Bailey Harper, and Heather Burnett FACULTY MENTORS: Drs. Marina McConkey and Ning Cheng PODCAST EPISODE DESCRIPTION This episode tackles the ongoing debate around the ideal age to desex dogs, exploring how emerging research challenges long‑held beliefs about mammary cancer risk. We break down the latest findings on musculoskeletal disorders, breed and weight‑related fac...